" ... this music is boring and repetitive to listen too. But heck, it really is fantastic fun to play." - Llig never wrote a truer word & that's why an ITM session is, so often, just like a Football match! (Soccer)
Now for those of you who haven't watched it, Soccer, is without doubt, the most boring game on the planet, often consisting of 90 mins being played, but absolutely no points being scored by either team!
Can you imagine anything less exciting. [ At least with Cricket, points are scored. ]
...... & so it is with some ITM sessions which involve only the playing of Reels - the perfect cure for the insomniac - unless you are playing & happen to be one of those one-dimensional Reel-only players!
So be honest, does your session consist of endless 4x4 Reels?
Is your session the 'Chelsea Tractor' of sessions in your area?
Is your session one of those - "boring and repetitive to listen too." sessions that llig might be referring to, above?
If so, do you accept that your session is giving ITM a bad name by boring it's listeners?
OK it might be "really ... fantastic fun to play" but do you accept that you are being totally selfish by playing only what you like, with a total disregard for your listeners?
Do you accept that if more sessions consisted of a wide variety of tune types like Jigs & Polkas & Slides & Barndances & Highlands & Airs & Mazurkas etc etc plus a few songs, then there would probably be a lot more people coming along to your session, to listen?
Can you imagine a time in the future, for example, when ITM sessions worldwide, were made up of non-stop Reels being played all night?
Is that not just another vision of HELL?
Or do you think musicians in 'Reel-only' sessions should be receiving footballer's wages?
Good loord you make sessions sound like hell on earth. I love reels but ... only reels in a seshion is like having bacon and cabbage for dinner every day. sure its lovely once a week but every day??
I must be blessed cause the session i go to consists of everything from reels and jigs to slow airs and waltz's and some Cajun stuff thrown in for good measure, to every one on thier toes.
"Do you accept that if more sessions consisted of a wide variety of tune types like Jigs & Polkas & Slides & Barndances & Highlands & Airs & Mazurkas etc etc plus a few songs, then there would probably be a lot more people coming along to your session, to listen?"
If only that were true. Lots of people (punters?) show up for the reel-fests and cheer on the music as it gets faster and faster. It all sounds the same but that's the point. Sad, isn't it?
And if you thing your football is boring, you should watch the American kind. They run 5 feet, then pile on top of each other and the refs call a 10 minute time out. Then they do it again.
We do have the odd song and a few waltzs at the end when the fiddlers have packed up- otherwise it reels and jigs, an odd set of polkas and hornpipes played reel fast.
The session's I go to play a mix jig reels hornpipes and a song or two for good measure but I have meet fiddle players
that think every tune is a reel they look like thet are sawing
the fiddle. I think you need a variety to keep everybody happy.
"They run 5 feet, then pile on top of each other" - Aye Kennedy, they do that too at Soccer matches, but only after someone scores a goal & then they're usually kissing & hugging each other. I don't suppose much kissing goes on in your game, because of those helmets they wear!
It all sounds the same but that's the point. Sad, isn't it? Yes!
Savage, I suspect that "bacon and cabbage for dinner every day" would also keep everyone on their toes - in my experience, there's nothing creates bowel gasses like a good feed of cabbage!
"and hornpipes played reel fast." - what is the point of playing HPs fast? Next thing you know, folk'll be turning jigs, waltzes & mazurkas etc etc all into Reels too!
"I think you need a variety to keep everybody happy." - well said celtic.
What is it the French say, oh yes - "Viva le difference!"
The obvious thing for the dissatisfied is to club together and found an Order with some preposterous name, such as The Grand Company Of Were-Rabbits, and get official permission to march round the town. Most rhythms other than reels, as far as I can see, could be used to accompany this lugubrious parade, including wedding-marches nicked from innumerable traditions. End up at a pub, share out any money collected, get the drinks in, and play reels...
Good analogy Ptarmi, I always loved playing soccer before I got too creaky (and bulbous to be honest) to run around the field--but never liked to watch it.
I would say that the sessions I have attended mostly mix things up in a pretty good fashion, which keeps it interesting.
I disagree with llig's assertion that this music is boring and repetitive. That might be true if you just listen to just the obvious parts of it, but in the right hands, there are enough gorgeous subtleties in even the simplest of dance tunes to keep me satisfied, and coming back for more, not just as a player, but as a listener!
I remember that lliG quote, and it always bothered me -- expecially in conjunction with lliG's claim that The Music requires no accompaniment because its melodic line provides its own rhythm and harmony. While it's true that the music works well without accompaniment for dancers and for players who find it fun, if it's boring and repetitious to listen to, that implies that the music DOESN'T work so well without accompaniment, at least not for lliG's listening pleasures.
People who have argued that accompaniment spoils the music are perhaps missing the point that its intention should be to raise the music from just being a player's pleasure to being a listern's pleasure as well.
I guess this isn't what you were looking for Ptarmigan, but it's all I got.
Sessions for enjoyment should have variety. Now you could sit in a kitchen playing reels all night with a few friends, and really enjoy it, because the only thing that matters is the music. In a pub however, it is a social occasion, like it or not, and doing the same thing is anti-social. Now I am not saying that you need to "perform" for a crowd, but a bit of talking to or bantering with other people in the pub goes a long way to making it enjoyable for everyone. And a bit of variety, airs and songs, makes it a social occasion and enjoyable for all.
Only an out and out purist could disagree, and an out and out purist shouldn't be playing in a pub.
Ptarm, I'd've thought it might parallel your other passion, birdwatching, (the FEATHERED kind, ya bunch of low-life pervs! Mr. Pt is a keen amateur ornithologist, I believe.) Or instead of trainspotting, what we do is akin to tunespotting, 'cept we make a lot of noise.
As for myself, I can see parallels with my other major time-consuming interest. Years ago I'd have called what I did athletics, but nowadays let's just call it participating in longer distance races. So you spend many hours a week training or practicing, then get out to a session/race once or twice a week. At least sessions last longer, and aren't so painful. There the similarity ends, I think.
John and I stopped going to sessions at the People's Pint because the "in" crowd didn't like outsiders to join. then we stopped going to the Harp on Fridays because they don't like any tempo over 94.
So we started our own session at the Black Sheep. It's growing slowly, and the good news is we can control the tunes we play - we post common medleys on the session website so noobies can learn them before a session...that way we don't have endless dribble drabble
An ITM session is like a Football match!
An ITM session is like a Football match!
" ... this music is boring and repetitive to listen too. But heck, it really is fantastic fun to play." - Llig never wrote a truer word & that's why an ITM session is, so often, just like a Football match! (Soccer)
Now for those of you who haven't watched it, Soccer, is without doubt, the most boring game on the planet, often consisting of 90 mins being played, but absolutely no points being scored by either team!
Can you imagine anything less exciting. [ At least with Cricket, points are scored. ]
...... & so it is with some ITM sessions which involve only the playing of Reels - the perfect cure for the insomniac - unless you are playing & happen to be one of those one-dimensional Reel-only players!
So be honest, does your session consist of endless 4x4 Reels?
Is your session the 'Chelsea Tractor' of sessions in your area?
Is your session one of those - "boring and repetitive to listen too." sessions that llig might be referring to, above?
If so, do you accept that your session is giving ITM a bad name by boring it's listeners?
OK it might be "really ... fantastic fun to play" but do you accept that you are being totally selfish by playing only what you like, with a total disregard for your listeners?
Do you accept that if more sessions consisted of a wide variety of tune types like Jigs & Polkas & Slides & Barndances & Highlands & Airs & Mazurkas etc etc plus a few songs, then there would probably be a lot more people coming along to your session, to listen?
Can you imagine a time in the future, for example, when ITM sessions worldwide, were made up of non-stop Reels being played all night?
Is that not just another vision of HELL?
Or do you think musicians in 'Reel-only' sessions should be receiving footballer's wages?
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
Good loord you make sessions sound like hell on earth. I love reels but ... only reels in a seshion is like having bacon and cabbage for dinner every day. sure its lovely once a week but every day??
I must be blessed cause the session i go to consists of everything from reels and jigs to slow airs and waltz's and some Cajun stuff thrown in for good measure, to every one on thier toes.
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by session savage
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
Thats meant to be 'to keep everyone on thier toes'
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by session savage
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
"Do you accept that if more sessions consisted of a wide variety of tune types like Jigs & Polkas & Slides & Barndances & Highlands & Airs & Mazurkas etc etc plus a few songs, then there would probably be a lot more people coming along to your session, to listen?"
If only that were true. Lots of people (punters?) show up for the reel-fests and cheer on the music as it gets faster and faster. It all sounds the same but that's the point. Sad, isn't it?
And if you thing your football is boring, you should watch the American kind. They run 5 feet, then pile on top of each other and the refs call a 10 minute time out. Then they do it again.
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by kennedy
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
But that's to make room for the advertising, isn't it Kennedy?
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by the wounded hussar
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
We do have the odd song and a few waltzs at the end when the fiddlers have packed up- otherwise it reels and jigs, an odd set of polkas and hornpipes played reel fast.
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by the wounded hussar
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
The session's I go to play a mix jig reels hornpipes and a song or two for good measure but I have meet fiddle players
that think every tune is a reel they look like thet are sawing
the fiddle. I think you need a variety to keep everybody happy.
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by celtic strings
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
"They run 5 feet, then pile on top of each other" - Aye Kennedy, they do that too at Soccer matches, but only after someone scores a goal & then they're usually kissing & hugging each other. I don't suppose much kissing goes on in your game, because of those helmets they wear!
It all sounds the same but that's the point. Sad, isn't it? Yes!
Savage, I suspect that "bacon and cabbage for dinner every day" would also keep everyone on their toes - in my experience, there's nothing creates bowel gasses like a good feed of cabbage!
"and hornpipes played reel fast." - what is the point of playing HPs fast? Next thing you know, folk'll be turning jigs, waltzes & mazurkas etc etc all into Reels too!
"I think you need a variety to keep everybody happy." - well said celtic.
What is it the French say, oh yes - "Viva le difference!"
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
The obvious thing for the dissatisfied is to club together and found an Order with some preposterous name, such as The Grand Company Of Were-Rabbits, and get official permission to march round the town. Most rhythms other than reels, as far as I can see, could be used to accompany this lugubrious parade, including wedding-marches nicked from innumerable traditions. End up at a pub, share out any money collected, get the drinks in, and play reels...
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by nicholas
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
LOL Ptarmigan, so true, nothing quite like cabbage to damage th ozone.
Your forgot to mention pop ballads being turned into reels, like De Dannan did
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by session savage
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
Good analogy Ptarmi, I always loved playing soccer before I got too creaky (and bulbous to be honest) to run around the field--but never liked to watch it.
I would say that the sessions I have attended mostly mix things up in a pretty good fashion, which keeps it interesting.
I disagree with llig's assertion that this music is boring and repetitive. That might be true if you just listen to just the obvious parts of it, but in the right hands, there are enough gorgeous subtleties in even the simplest of dance tunes to keep me satisfied, and coming back for more, not just as a player, but as a listener!
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by AlBrown
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
There is nothing I despise more than playing hornpipes as reels.
Playing polkas without proper polka bowing...as reels.
Playing slow airs...as reels.
Waltzes, as reels.
I honestly don't know why people do these things. There are enough reels already. We do not need to make OTHER TUNES INTO MORE REELS. ARFGH >_>
--DtM
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by Dan the Man
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
If a session is like a football match, I'm for Rugby Union rules!
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by Hanley
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
I remember that lliG quote, and it always bothered me -- expecially in conjunction with lliG's claim that The Music requires no accompaniment because its melodic line provides its own rhythm and harmony. While it's true that the music works well without accompaniment for dancers and for players who find it fun, if it's boring and repetitious to listen to, that implies that the music DOESN'T work so well without accompaniment, at least not for lliG's listening pleasures.
People who have argued that accompaniment spoils the music are perhaps missing the point that its intention should be to raise the music from just being a player's pleasure to being a listern's pleasure as well.
I guess this isn't what you were looking for Ptarmigan, but it's all I got.
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by cuchulain54
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
So is a football match purely for the benefit of the players, or is it a performance?
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by Mark Harmer
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
Woo- hoo!!!
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
And they're off !!!!!!
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by AlBrown
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
....."preposterous name.....march........lugubrious parade........"
Oh, oh, nicholas, you're forming a Morris side!
# Posted on February 22nd 2007 by oldstrings
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
Sessions for enjoyment should have variety. Now you could sit in a kitchen playing reels all night with a few friends, and really enjoy it, because the only thing that matters is the music. In a pub however, it is a social occasion, like it or not, and doing the same thing is anti-social. Now I am not saying that you need to "perform" for a crowd, but a bit of talking to or bantering with other people in the pub goes a long way to making it enjoyable for everyone. And a bit of variety, airs and songs, makes it a social occasion and enjoyable for all.
Only an out and out purist could disagree, and an out and out purist shouldn't be playing in a pub.
# Posted on February 22nd 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
Ptarm, I'd've thought it might parallel your other passion, birdwatching, (the FEATHERED kind, ya bunch of low-life pervs! Mr. Pt is a keen amateur ornithologist, I believe.) Or instead of trainspotting, what we do is akin to tunespotting, 'cept we make a lot of noise.
As for myself, I can see parallels with my other major time-consuming interest. Years ago I'd have called what I did athletics, but nowadays let's just call it participating in longer distance races. So you spend many hours a week training or practicing, then get out to a session/race once or twice a week. At least sessions last longer, and aren't so painful. There the similarity ends, I think.
# Posted on February 22nd 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: An ITM session is like a Football match!
John and I stopped going to sessions at the People's Pint because the "in" crowd didn't like outsiders to join. then we stopped going to the Harp on Fridays because they don't like any tempo over 94.
So we started our own session at the Black Sheep. It's growing slowly, and the good news is we can control the tunes we play - we post common medleys on the session website so noobies can learn them before a session...that way we don't have endless dribble drabble
10 years of session annoyances have come to this
# Posted on February 25th 2007 by celticagent